Return of the Shield

Never let it be said that Australians don't eventually learn from their mistakes (apart from when they made Crocodile Dundee 3). Second only to the ridiculous decision (later recanted) to kill off Harold Bishop in Neighbours, the worst mistake ever made by an Australian was when someone agreed to rebrand the Sheffield Shield as the Pura Cup nine years ago, ending more than 100 years of first-class history to placate a milky sponsor.

The fans hated the new name, the players hated it (Paul Reiffel said it felt like treason to put his face to an advert for it) and while Pura may have increased their recognition factor, most people still referred to the tournament as the Sheffield Shield.

Well now the dark days are over, the competition has a new sponsor, Weet-bix, and the name has been restored. Australian first-class cricketers will once again compete for the Sheffield Shield (not even the Weet-bix Sheffield Shield) and everything is right with the world.

Incidentally, why do the Aussies call the breakfast cereal Weet-bix and we call it Weetabix? Did a letter go missing in the post at some point?

According to The Australian, the shield itself was dismantled into 150 pieces after Pura took over and it has been painstakingly restored. It is now kept in a see-through case to prevent damage. The Shield dates back to 1891-92 when Lord Sheffield was in Australia to promote the English team led by WG Grace. At the end of the tour, his nibs donated pound £150 to the New South Wales Cricket Association to promote inter-colonial cricket. By a 6-5 vote, the states decided to put the money towards an annual trophy.

Comments

[Humphrey B Bear]

Gday Pat.

Bishop was having nasty Winnebago sex with an older woman (yes, older), in the NSW South Coast town of Bermagui, before doing a runner back to Erinsborough.

He must have been an absolute bloody champion at the horizontal samba, because the wizened hack has stalked him all the way to Ramsay St. Alas, he was passing himself off as Lou Carpenter in order to get her into the sleeping bag. Thus the return of Harold begins...

Thought you'd want to know old mate. Mrs Bear is the fan, of course.

Oh yeah, Weet-Bix predates the rather poofily titled 'Weet-a-Bix' lads. Sorry. Can't see Bing tucking into his morning 12 'Weetabix' before tearing the Poms a new one.

Pav's spot on about the Shield. Best cricket you can watch. Cheap and roomy too.

[The Pav]

JROD........It's cereal

Patrick

Re Incidentally, why do the Aussies call the breakfast cereal Weet-bix and we call it Weetabix?

The answer is the same as why Queenslanders spell beer XXXX

As to the Pur Cup complaints. If they turned up to the games then maybe it wouldn't have happened. $1M is powerful motivation when only freinds & relations go to the game.

Probably the best 1st Class cricket in the world and less than a 1,000 people go to watch. All these tradiononalists need to to get off their backsides & go to the game if they want to complain about the trophy.

I regularly go to the WACA and regularly the cricket is better tha some of the tripe served up as test cricket. At least its competitive

[David Barry]

Maybe a letter got added to Weet-bix in the post. Weet-bix was registered in Australia in 1928; the English Weetabix was founded in 1932.

[DeloreanGray]

Tate and lyle to take over in 9 years? Then tropicana orange juice 9 years later, then warburtons, then lurpack?

[jrod]

What I like is the fact it has gone from being sponsored by milk, to serial, it's a beautiful moment in corporate continuity.